Old Bess follows Cynthia and Keith, who, after the beloved cow Old Bess goes missing just before calving, embark on a suspenseful search to find her, confronting their despair and hope amid a stormy night. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

It is a true story from my childhood growing up and spending the summer months on my grandmother’s farm at the base of Hog’s Back Mountain in upstate New York.

What was the collaboration like with illustrator Audrey Savage? 

She was amazing. When she came for our first meeting, I knew I wanted her to do the illustrations. She comes from a classical education and loves literature, so Old Bess went straight to her heart… I like to say, “She got it.” I said I wanted black and white and she just went for it! 

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book? 

I like the idea of staying with the difficult and right thing to do, even it’s uncomfortable or frightening. 

Help from whatever community we have at the moment is always needed and we have to ask for it in good times and bad. 

I wanted to explore the theme of how we find rest and safety…with each other, through hard work, and through creation.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available? 

I am almost done with my second children’s book (illustrations and all). I am planning for “The Cabin” to be available to the world sometime in the fall of 2024. It is another almost true story that takes place in the same setting: Hog’s Back Mountain in upstate NY. 

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